Category: South Africa Government

The South African government has noted the recent developments intended to achieve a ceasefire and peace for Gaza and the region.

In a statement on Saturday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said the developments towards peace have the potential to alleviate profound human suffering and build much-needed confidence.

“We welcome the decision by Hamas to release all Israeli hostages and its stated readiness for further engagement. This decision must be met with reciprocal action by the State of Israel. 

“Such reciprocal measures will be a confidence building measure for de-escalation and the restoration of trust. They represent a critical opportunity to uphold universal human dignity and build a foundation for a just and durable peace.

“We therefore emphasise that the release of Palestinian political prisoners, including children, and the abductees seized from the humanitarian flotilla must be urgently addressed,” DIRCO said.

South Africa has asserted that a lasting peace cannot be built upon the suppression of a people’s fundamental human rights. 

“We urge all parties to transcend this cycle of confrontation and address the root causes of the conflict. This necessitates an immediate and permanent ceasefire, alongside a definitive political process that realizes the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self- determination and statehood. This is in line with relevant United Nations resolutions.

“Guided by a commitment to a rules-based international order founded on international law, South Africa stands ready to support all genuine inclusive efforts aimed at achieving this definitive and peaceful resolution,” DIRCO said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all South Africans have access to sustainable water and sanitation services.

Addressing the Commission on Policy Review and Legislative Reforms, the department’s Deputy Director-General Dr Risimati Mathye emphasised that water is not only a basic human right but the cornerstone of health, dignity and economic growth, which must therefore be managed and delivered with long-term sustainability in mind.

The two-day gathering brought together leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to reflect on the past 25 years of democratic local government and to chart an agenda for the next 25 years. 

“The department remains steadfast in its mission to close existing service gaps while preparing for the future. By working together with municipalities, business and communities, we can ensure that every drop counts and that no South African is left behind when it comes to access to water and sanitation,” Mathye said on Friday in Midrand.

He outlined the department’s plans which include the professionalisation of local government, legislative reforms to strengthen oversight, the establishment of an independent water sector regulator and the development of a national water action plan. 

These measures will be complemented by Phase 2 of Operation Vulindlela, which focuses on accelerating structural reforms to drive sustainable and inclusive growth. 

Operation Vulindlela was established in October 2020 as a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury.

Within the water and sanitation sector, Phase 2 seeks to streamline regulatory processes, enhance infrastructure investment through public-private collaboration, and establish efficient institutions such as the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) and Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs). 

These reforms are designed to improve efficiency, ensure better management of water resources and secure long-term water sustainability for all. – SAnews.gov.za

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, has welcomed the conviction of a dismissed official, Dawn Pieterson, who has been found guilty on nine counts of fraud and two counts of contravening the Births and Deaths Registration Act.

Pieterson was formerly employed at the Department of Home Affairs office in Calvinia in the Northern Cape, where she abused her access to departmental records to commit fraud and corruption between February 2019 and September 2022. 

She did this by opening funeral policies on clients’ identity numbers, nominating herself as the beneficiary, then falsely declaring the holders of the ID numbers as deceased in order to access the payouts.

The department said it would continue to monitor the case as Pieterson is scheduled to be sentenced on 26 January 2026.

“This latest successful conviction is another step forward in our ongoing work to clean up Home Affairs. It is the ninth conviction secured through the collaboration between the department and law enforcement agencies. It also follows the dismissal of 37 officials since July 2024. 

“I applaud the department’s Counter Corruption unit for this conviction, as well as our partners in the Hawks and other entities.”

The Minister said the modus operandi used in this case confirmed the fundamental importance of the digital transformation agenda. 

“By fully automating and digitalising all departmental processes, as we are doing through the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visas and through Digital ID for civics services, we will eliminate the space for human discretion and interference exploited by criminals like Pieterson. 

“We are absolutely determined to both put criminal officials behind bars, while simultaneously using technology to close the loopholes they exploit. This is how we can defeat the scourge of corruption once and for all,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, has called for a renewed focus on ethical leadership as the foundation for turning around the decline in municipalities across South Africa.

Speaking at the Local Government Indaba in Gauteng, the MEC said that without ethical leadership, no number of new laws or revised frameworks will improve service delivery.

“South Africa has enough resources in the system to meet the needs of our people. The real problem is corruption, theft and poor management. Ethical leadership is the only way we can restore dignity, trust and delivery in our municipalities,” said Bredell.

The MEC outlined several key interventions to turn local government around in South Africa.

“We need a new financial model that aligns national, provincial and local responsibilities with sustainable funding. If the national government takes a top slice first, other spheres of government will not receive their rightful allocation.” 

He said the country needs stronger consequence management, such as automatic intervention when councils fail to pass funded budgets. 

“In this manner, we will spend much less time in court fighting with municipalities and more time supporting them at the early onset of challenges. Also, make it a law that municipalities should spend a minimum of 8% of their budget on infrastructure maintenance of critical infrastructure.”

In addition, he is of the view that the creation of independent auditors employed by the National Treasury within municipalities can act as a shield for professional officials subjected to political interference. 

“We are struggling to attract and keep qualified and experienced municipal managers and financial officers. We require reform in legislation to enable and attract suitable and qualified senior managers.

“As government, it is our responsibility to support people to have a dignified life. Research we conducted in the Western Cape shows that the current indigent support provided to vulnerable people is not enough.”

According to the MEC, the legislation provides for 6 kilolitres of water and 50 kWh of electricity per household, but this should be at least 10 kilolitres of water and at least 150 kWh of electricity.

“I believe that an investment in dignity will yield positive results. Electricity in a home means children can safely do homework at night, improving our education outcomes. 

“Access to clean water will lessen the burden on our clinics and hospitals. The question should not be if we can afford to increase basic services to indigent households. The question should be, can we afford not to invest in our people?”

During a keynote address at the Local Government Indaba, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa said that although significant progress has been made since 2000 in improving democratic governance and service delivery, municipalities still face challenges.

These include institutional weaknesses, poor financial management, governance failures, and a decline in public trust.

He stressed that improved accountability, ethical leadership, professionalisation, and inclusive public participation are central to revitalising municipalities and ensuring that “every municipality must work.”

“The culture of no accountability, lack of transparency, political interference, and no consequence management is a major weakness in our communities, especially the underperforming municipalities. This culture must be stopped,” Hlabisa added. – SAnews.gov.za
 

With Cape Town now ranked the ninth most congested city in the world, Western Cape MEC for Mobility Isaac Sileku has warned that traffic gridlock is more than an inconvenience – it is undermining livelihoods, businesses, and the environment.

Launching Mobility Month on Wednesday with a panel discussion in Cape Town, Sileku brought together major transport players to confront one of the province’s biggest challenges: easing congestion and improving public transport.

The discussion included representatives from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS), the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), and academics. Together, they stressed that while congestion cannot be eliminated, it can be better managed through coordinated solutions.

Among the issues raised was the heavy reliance on private vehicles, with 60% of cars during peak hours carrying just one passenger. 

PRASA Regional Manager Raymond Maseko said rail must once again become the backbone of the system.

“We aim to move one million passengers a day. Passenger rail must anchor public transport, supported by other modes,” he said.

SANTACO Provincial Chairperson Mandla Hermanus said taxi operators are beginning to adopt higher-occupancy vehicles, such as 23- and 25-seaters, which carry more people, while cutting operating costs.

Sileku said the province’s strategy rests on three pillars: strengthening public transport, expanding non-motorised options like cycling and walking, and shifting travel behaviour through carpooling, flexible working, and technology.

“We cannot build our way out of congestion.

“We must manage it with innovative and practical solutions. That means enabling public transport to be the first choice for commuters and ensuring rail, buses, taxis and e-hailing can coexist effectively.”

The Department of Mobility outlined several interventions already underway, including:

• Rail recovery: Restoring services on the Central Line, rolling out new trains, expanding park-and-ride facilities and deploying the Rail Enforcement Unit.
• Bus services: Golden Arrow carries more than 230 000 passengers daily, alongside the expansion of MyCiTi and the N2 bus lane.
• Taxis: with 75% of commuters relying on minibus taxis, initiatives are being rolled out to improve efficiency and safety.
• Non-motorised transport: safe cycling and walking projects, as well as the distribution of over 400 bicycles annually.

Sileku said Mobility Month is about more than transport logistics. 

“At the heart of Mobility Month is one simple goal – to keep goods and people moving safely and efficiently across the Western Cape. We want to reclaim lost hours, unlock economic growth, and restore dignity in how people move.” – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has urged the public to exercise caution and remain vigilant during times of payout.

This is to ensure the personal safety and property of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant recipients. 

In order to stay safe when accessing your SASSA grant, the following safety tips are recommended:

• Keep your personal and payment information confidential.
• Protect your SASSA card and PIN at all times.
• Be cautious of strangers around ATMs.
• Be aware of your payment dates and consider waiting a few days after the scheduled date to avoid large crowds at payment points.
• Be wary of unsolicited calls or messages asking for your personal details or card information.
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings before and after using an ATM.
• Avoid using ATMs with blank screens or those located in poorly lit or secluded areas.
• Consider going with a friend and or a family member when collecting cash.
• Be suspicious of strangers who offer help or claim there’s a problem with the ATM.
• Security personnel stationed at ATMs are there to deter criminal activity and are not authorised to assist with transactions.

SAPS encourages the public to report any suspicious activity or criminal incidents by calling the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111, the SASSA grant and fraud hotline 0800 601 or via the MySAPS App. – SAnews.gov.za